Purchase a Trainer or Health Club Stationary Bike?
10-20-09, 03:42 PM
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Purchase a Trainer or Health Club Stationary Bike?
Hi folks,
I am a bike newbie, and have purchased my first road bike, just in time for winter....
I was planning on buying a Kurt Kinetic trainer, until I saw an ad for used Lifefitness stationary bikes. A local health club lost one of their locations/leases and is selling recumbent and upright bikes at discounted prices. They claim the bikes are in good shape, and are willing to include a one year warranty. (Don't yet have that in writing...)
The Kurt Kinetic is about $300, while the stationary upright bike is $1,350 used (Retail New is about $2,650). The bike has HR measurement and workout programs, with selectable levels of difficulty. I have used the same or a similar model to train for the bike portion of a spring triathlon last March, and felt I was bike-fit for the race. ( I used a buddy's bike for the race, since I didn't yet have a bike.)
The club is willing to let me test ride their bikes, and the deal seems aboveboard.
Ignoring price, which would you buy - the trainer or the stationary bike? Detailed justifications/explanations would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks!
I am a bike newbie, and have purchased my first road bike, just in time for winter....
I was planning on buying a Kurt Kinetic trainer, until I saw an ad for used Lifefitness stationary bikes. A local health club lost one of their locations/leases and is selling recumbent and upright bikes at discounted prices. They claim the bikes are in good shape, and are willing to include a one year warranty. (Don't yet have that in writing...)
The Kurt Kinetic is about $300, while the stationary upright bike is $1,350 used (Retail New is about $2,650). The bike has HR measurement and workout programs, with selectable levels of difficulty. I have used the same or a similar model to train for the bike portion of a spring triathlon last March, and felt I was bike-fit for the race. ( I used a buddy's bike for the race, since I didn't yet have a bike.)
The club is willing to let me test ride their bikes, and the deal seems aboveboard.
Ignoring price, which would you buy - the trainer or the stationary bike? Detailed justifications/explanations would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks!
10-20-09, 06:43 PM
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How much indoor riding will you be doing? $1350 is a lot. I don't know about you, but I hate indoor cycling and would rather go out in the dark and cold. It's got to be raining hard or snowing to keep me indoors. Spending a lot on indoor cycling would be pointless for me.
Most health club bikes have very poor ergonomics- seats that have narrow noses and very wide bodies, so there is no comfortable position. Funny handlebars and wierd pedals. I can't ride a Lifecycle for more than 10-20 minutes before it hurts too much, and I can do 130 mile rides on a racing bike, so it's not me that is the problem. They use non-cycling standard interfaces so you can't put a real bike saddle on one. The computer is useless- the power measurement is often way off, I adjust the difficulty manually so I don't need a program, and a built in HRM isn't worth much since you can buy a good one for under $100 and probably already have it.
I bought a used refurbished spin bike a couple winters ago for dedicated indoor riding. It was about a third of the price you are talking about, and I put a real bike saddle and pedals on it so it's close to riding a real bike.
But I'd recommend the trainer for you.
Most health club bikes have very poor ergonomics- seats that have narrow noses and very wide bodies, so there is no comfortable position. Funny handlebars and wierd pedals. I can't ride a Lifecycle for more than 10-20 minutes before it hurts too much, and I can do 130 mile rides on a racing bike, so it's not me that is the problem. They use non-cycling standard interfaces so you can't put a real bike saddle on one. The computer is useless- the power measurement is often way off, I adjust the difficulty manually so I don't need a program, and a built in HRM isn't worth much since you can buy a good one for under $100 and probably already have it.
I bought a used refurbished spin bike a couple winters ago for dedicated indoor riding. It was about a third of the price you are talking about, and I put a real bike saddle and pedals on it so it's close to riding a real bike.
But I'd recommend the trainer for you.
10-21-09, 09:56 AM
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Unfortunately, I am forced to do much of my training on a trainer. Go with a trainer. You will be on your bike; your body will get use to your bike. The experience is much more realistic. And you will be ready to hit the road when you can.
buddy
The money you save on buying a trainer invest in a Garmin Edge 705 works real good with a trainer. Heart rate, cadence , speed, and time.
buddy
The money you save on buying a trainer invest in a Garmin Edge 705 works real good with a trainer. Heart rate, cadence , speed, and time.
